HOUSTON (November 5, 2018) – The Ensemble Theatre Elevates the Power of the Arts with the revival of holiday musical Christmas is Comin’ Uptown, directed and choreographed by Patdro Harris, and musical direction by Chika Kaba Ma’atunde with Opening Night and Media Reception, Thursday, November 15, 2018, 6:30p.m.

“This story of scrooge with a jazzy spin adds a new rhythm and movement that will tug at the heart and tap your toes,” says Harris. “As a dancer I explore how movement articulates our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and have used colorful movement paired with scenic and musical artistry in a way I hope will bring a unique and very special spirit of joy.”

Christmas is Comin Uptown book by Philip Rose and Peter Udell, music by Garry Sherman, and Lyrics by Peter Udell was a collaboration between three of broadways most highly recognized writers, conductors, and lyricists of their time. This trio of talent led by Rose, dared imagine one of our most beloved holiday productions from a different perspective.

Who doesn’t love a classic with a twist! The traditional story of “A Christmas Carol” gets a jazzy and colorful
makeover! In this version, Scrooge is a Harlem slumlord who is just about to foreclose on a tenement house and
a church when a surprise visit from an “old friend” and some groovy ghosts make him reconsider.

The Ensemble Theatre's 2017-2018 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. United Airlines is the official airline sponsor for The Ensemble Theatre.

The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. In addition to being held as the oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's largest African American theatres that owns and operates its facility with an in-house production team.

The Ensemble Theatre produces a main stage season of six contemporary and classic works devoted to the portrayal of the African American experience by local and national playwrights and artists. The theatre’s Performing Arts Education program provides educational workshops, Artist-in-Residence experiences and live performances for students both off-site and at the Theatre. The Young Performers Program offers intensive summer training for children ages 6 to 17 encompassing instruction in all disciplines of the theatre arts.